Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

According to recent statistics, there are nearly 70 million stray animals in the United States, and only about six to eight million enter the nation’s shelters. Additionally, only two percent of stray cats are reclaimed by their owners compared to the (still low) number of 30% for dogs.

July is Lost Pet Prevention Month. There are many ways to insure your pet’s safety and offer hope for a safe return in case it does become lost.

Keep your cat indoors. Outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats have a higher death rate due to being hit by cars or preyed upon by other animals, such as coyotes, foxes, and owls.

Keep your dog indoors except for bathroom breaks, and if you do have your dog outside for a period of time, make sure your yard is appropriately fenced (many large dogs are able to scale chain-link and even wooden fences) and that all gates are securely locked. Not only can dogs escape the yard, but thieves can snatch them (there are many unscrupulous people seeking dogs to sell either to mills or dog-fighting rings – or simply sell to other people looking for specific breeds).

Place a collar and id tag on your pet and make sure the contact information is up-to-date.

Strongly consider having a microchip implanted by your veterinarian – and make sure this information is also updated.

If your pet does become lost and your furry friend has a microchip, you can register your lost animal with the chip company (such as HomeAgain). Also, post to a community Lost and Found Facebook page if there is one, hang posters around the neighborhood, and report to your local animal control and animal shelter office(s).

Purchase a GPS tracking device, such as Whistle, and have your pet wear it whenever outdoors. Such a locator can help find your pet if s/he slips out.

Another helpful device is the Marco Polo, which doesn’t rely on cell service as others like the Whistle.

My husband and I have a variety of ways to keep our pets safe. We use the Whistle and Marco Polo on our dogs, especially when we travel, and all of our pets have microchips. Our cats are indoor animals with cat trees and other furnishings near windows to give them outdoor viewing opportunities. The dogs also live inside and when they are outside in our 6-foot wooden fence backyard for extended periods of time, we are with them. They also wear collars with ID tags.

Losing a pet is difficult. I have walked that road before, thankfully, with a happy ending. I also have friends whose pets have gone missing, one lost her dog for nearly three weeks before successfully finding her precious pup and bringing her home.

For your sake and the sake of your furry family members, do all you can to help them NOT become a lost pet statistic.

One of the most difficult aspects of being a pet owner is dealing with the loss of a beloved companion. Just more than a year ago, my husband and I lost our beloved blind Springer Spaniel, Sage, who had been part of our lives for nearly 12 years. Losing her was not easy; in fact, we still grieve some days, even though we still have Cody and we recently adopted a new dog named Mary. Grief is a feeling I don’t relish. How does one deal with the loss of a pet? Grief experts remind us that intense sadness is normal. During the years, even if the years are few in number, the pet we have becomes a significant and constant part of our life, and their absence is felt deeply. People experience different emotions when a beloved pet dies, not just sorrow or pain; sometimes it’s anger, sometimes it’s guilt and sometimes it’s depression. Experts state that one should honestly acknowledge their feelings, not hide or deny them. Try to find a confidant with whom to share your feelings, perhaps another pet owner, a sympathetic family member or friend, in other words, someone who will provide you comfort and understanding, not one who will belittle your true emotions. What you feel is real – don’t mask it. When talking with children about a pet’s death, honesty is critical. If you say the pet was "put to sleep," be sure your children understand the difference between death and ordinary sleep. It’s not wise to say the pet "went away," or your child may wonder what s/he did to make it leave and be anxiously awaiting its return. Make it clear to your children that the pet will not come back, but that it is happy and free of pain. Children are never too young or too old to grieve. Please don’t criticize your child for tears or for feeling sad. Be honest about your own sorrow and let them be honest about theirs. Discuss the loss as a family, and give everyone a chance to work through their grief in their own time. If you have other pets in the house, they may also grieve the loss. Pets observe household changes, therefore, they are bound to notice the absence of the other pet and the change in the family’s emotions. Pets can form strong attachments to each other and they recognize when their friend is gone. You may need to give your surviving pet lots of extra attention to help it through this period. That extra attention is helpful for you as well; surviving pets can provide great healing to you and your family. Take time before bringing a new pet into the household as children and surviving pets may not accept a new addition for awhile. Grieving is a very personal and individualized experience. People grieve differently, therefore, there is no “right way”. Simply being honest with yourself and your family is the key to dealing with the loss of a beloved pet. Grief is part of life, and though it’s a part that may be difficult, healing does come when we allow it. It’s not easy to lose those we love, but not loving at all is the true loss. Hearts heal to love once again… in time, just as my husband and I felt ready to love Mary... and we do! Though we still miss Sage, we are open to sharing our hearts and home with Mary, an act that will benefit both her and us. Do you or someone you know face the loss of a beloved pet? For more information about coping with the that grief and the loss of a pet, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grieving_pets.htm.